Chapter : 04
Entering the Job Market
Shili Town got its name because it sat roughly at the center of a circle surrounded by more than a dozen villages within a radius of ten li.
Classes possessed tremendous physical strength. Xu Yuan sprinted all the way into town in a single burst, barely even out of breath.
The realization surprised even her.
The town’s two main streets were lined with shops—small storefronts barely one or two square meters wide, marked by cloth banners fluttering in the wind.
There were also peddlers carrying goods balanced on shoulder poles and merchants beating drums to attract customers.
Xu Yuan stepped into a bookstore.
The owner was leisurely drinking tea while reclining in a rocking chair. The moment she saw Xu Yuan’s patched clothing, she impatiently waved her hand.
“Go, go, go…”
“Hey…”
A Kunze carrying a baby in their arms and doting on it stopped their wife.
“Don’t be like that. It’s not very nice.”
The owner immediately choked back her words and lost her temper, turning instead to tease the baby wrapped in blankets while ignoring Xu Yuan entirely.
Xu Yuan stood awkwardly for a moment. Seeing that no one was actively chasing her away anymore, she quietly walked inside and began reading.
According to the original owner’s memories, life had consisted of nothing but farm work, and she didn’t even recognize important figures of the era.
Following the principle that understanding an era begins with reading its books, Xu Yuan started browsing the shelves.
Meanwhile, the owner’s spouse whispered into her ear:
“Look, even though she’s dressed in rags, she actually knows how to read. There aren’t many literate peasants around here. She probably dressed like this on purpose.”
The owner blinked, glanced at Xu Yuan reading attentively, then openly turned to look at her spouse with an approving smile and a thumbs-up.
Her spouse covered their mouth and laughed softly.
Completely unaware that the couple had suddenly developed a favorable impression of her, Xu Yuan felt melancholic while flipping through the thread-bound books.
Everything was written in traditional Chinese characters, and she could only vaguely guess at the meanings.
“Boss, do you know where people are hiring? I’d like to find work.”
Xu Yuan finally set the book down.
The owner carefully sized her up.
The owner’s spouse, who clearly handled the business side of things better, asked:
“What can you do?”
“I know arithmetic and bookkeeping,” Xu Yuan replied, scratching her cheek as she chose her words carefully.
After all, having come from modern times, she was accustomed to simplified Chinese and didn’t dare claim she fully knew the writing system here.
“Oh…”
The owner’s spouse first glanced proudly at her wife, as if silently saying: See? I told you my judgment was right.
“If you know bookkeeping, then you can put up a sign and wait on Liufang Street. That’s where people go looking for work. If shops need employees, they recruit there. Someone with bookkeeping skills shouldn’t have trouble finding a job.”
“Thank you.”
Xu Yuan’s eyes immediately lit up.
Sure enough, intellectual talent was valuable in every era.
“You’re welcome. Would you like me to help you write a sign? It’s very cheap—only five wen.”
The owner’s spouse smiled kindly.
Xu Yuan quickly waved her hands with a grin.
“No need to trouble you. I can write it myself. Thank you.”
Forget five wen—right now she couldn’t even afford a single copper coin.
“No problem. Come back if you need anything in the future.”
The owner’s spouse continued smiling and even pointed Xu Yuan toward Liufang Street, privately calculating that since she knew arithmetic, she would surely return someday to buy paper and brushes.
Unfortunately, Xu Yuan couldn’t even afford blank paper for a sign.
Liufang Street was crowded with people seeking work.
Nearly all the signs looked identical, clearly written in the same hand—probably purchased from the bookstore owner.
Some advertised manure hauling, others laundry washing, childcare, and similar labor.
After walking around for a while, Xu Yuan realized that no one there offered bookkeeping services.
Secretly delighted, she cleared her throat and shouted:
“Bookkeeping services! Don’t miss out! High quality at low prices!”
The moment she shouted, many of the other job seekers turned to look at her.
After noticing her ragged clothing, however, their faces immediately filled with doubt.
Dressed like a beggar… and she claims she knows bookkeeping?
Most passersby and shopkeepers looking to hire people ignored her entirely.
After all, as the saying went: Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse.
Bookkeepers were usually dressed in long robes, looking refined, clean, and pale-skinned.
So while other workers gradually found employers, Xu Yuan remained standing there without a single offer.
Still, she neither felt discouraged nor embarrassed.
Rolling her eyes thoughtfully, she suddenly began reciting the multiplication table aloud.
Back in the bookstore, she had already discovered that arithmetic in this era relied heavily on multiplication tables.
The other workers waiting nearby thought she had gone crazy.
What kind of strange incantation was she chanting?
Several passersby stopped to watch, including an elegantly dressed Kunze who glanced at her repeatedly.
Seeing this, the young couple exchanged looks before one of the Classes walked over.
“What’s your name? Why don’t you have a sign? Can you read and write?”
“Boss, my name is Xu Yuan. I forgot my sign at home. I can read and write, and I’m very skilled at bookkeeping—mental math, rapid calculations… I’m really good! If you don’t believe me, you can test me.”
The Class listened, then looked toward their spouse.
The spouse stepped forward, thought briefly, and asked:
“My family went to eat noodles. There were three bowl sizes: large, medium, and small, priced at ten, eight, and six wen respectively.”
“My wife and mother each ate one large bowl. My mother and I each ate one medium bowl. My younger daughter ate a small bowl. Before leaving, we packed one medium bowl for my older daughter.”
“How much should we pay in total?”
The surrounding workers were already dizzy from listening, shooting Xu Yuan strange or amused looks.
Xu Yuan merely smiled faintly and answered immediately:
“Fifty wen in total.”
The Class and spouse both looked surprised.
The spouse mentally checked the calculation for a while before nodding toward the Class.
The Class narrowed their eyes slightly, seemingly inspired.
“At the noodle shop, customers can also add toppings. A fried egg costs one wen, a marinated egg costs two wen, and shredded chicken costs five wen.”
“My wife and I ordered three bowls each—large, medium, and small—and added two portions of shredded chicken to every bowl.”
“The large bowls each got two fried eggs and one marinated egg. The medium bowls each got one marinated egg and three portions of shredded chicken. The small bowls got nothing.”
“What’s the total?”
“One hundred and twenty-three wen, Boss.”
The Class immediately looked toward their spouse again.
This question had been improvised on the spot, so the spouse was now calculating mentally as well.
After quite some time, the spouse finally nodded.
The surrounding spectators stared back and forth between Xu Yuan and the suspiciously noodle-shop-owning young couple.
Meanwhile, Xu Yuan calmly let them stare, her face full of confidence.
“Very good. You calculate quite fast.”
The Class nodded approvingly.
“Is your home far from here? Would you like to come take a look at our shop?”
“Yes, that’s fine. It’s not too far.”
Xu Yuan subconsciously touched the patched rough-cloth pants she wore.
The Class followed her gaze, a trace of doubt flickering through their eyes—but only for a moment before they motioned for Xu Yuan to follow.
Along the way, the Class introduced the noodle shop’s conditions.
“Five hundred wen per month, with food and lodging included. You’ll be responsible for greeting customers, handling payments, and keeping the accounts.”
“If you accidentally accept counterfeit money, you’ll compensate for the loss yourself.”
“You’ll also clean the tables. You get one day off every ten days.”
“Oh, right—we also sell extra toppings. If customers order additional toppings because of your recommendation, you’ll receive commission.”
Xu Yuan listened carefully, though she still couldn’t fully judge whether the pay was considered good.
“Boss, thank you. Could you allow me to return home and discuss it with my family first?”
“Of course you should discuss it with them.”
The Class smiled, amusement flickering in their eyes.
Once they learned Xu Yuan had family, both the Class and their spouse felt more at ease.
Having family meant Xu Yuan was likely a responsible and hardworking person.
